LDS Alaska Mission President says missionaries do not proselytize members of other religions!

[RebeccaJ]

Hi Rebecca, I don’t think formal definitions support your deliniation.
And no, I’m not disagreeing on the methods employed by LDS vs. RCC

I’ve experienced the difference.

I always wondered why Catholics were so weak on proactive evangelism.

Did you now?

I was taught to behave as a christian but never to bring people to the faith.

Is there a difference?

 

[Bran_Stark]

It’s rather funny from the Protestant perspective - both Mormons and Catholics, whether by actual door-knocking or no, are trying to convert us to the “One True Church”. I’m not offended by either one; they’re both (the latter much more than the former though) fellow Christians.

 

[RebeccaJ]

It’s rather funny from the Protestant perspective - both Mormons and Catholics, whether by actual door-knocking or no, are trying to convert us to the “One True Church”. I’m not offended by either one; they’re both (the latter much more than the former though) fellow Christians.

Catholics view all who have received a Christian baptism as Christians.

Evangelization has a much broader connotation than proselytizing. ALL are called to be evangelized, this call does not exclude Catholics. In this sense, conversion is seen as ongoing and never ending; as Christ pulls us into Himself, our conversion deepens.

All Christians are on the same journey and I’ve never seen a Catholic actively proselytize a Christian. When a Christian desires to come into full communion with the Catholic Church, the catalyst is something other than missionary efforts.

I do see plenty of fellow Christians trying to entice Catholics to leave their faith. I think this was the point of the original question that took us down this small tangent. Why do Mormons actively proselytize Christians? The only possible answer is they don’t see anyone as Christians but themselves.

 

[campeador]

All will be saved who follow Christ. Christ said it best, If they are born of water and born of the Spirit they will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is believed by Catholics and Mormons alike; is there a problem?

Yes, there’s a problem. Are you Mormon?

I was hoping to get an LDS response, not someone who thinks they know what Mormons believe. I don’t think the Mormons here appreciate someone misrepresenting their beliefs.

 

[dianaiad]

My wife and I just yesterday returned from a vacation to the Salt Lake City area during which we toured Temple Square. Upon entering the gate of the square we were met by a couple of young LDS ladies who asked if we would like to be escorted and/or would like to know more about their church, we said no thank you and were left alone. That indicates to me both a level of evangelizing we Catholics should consider carefully and a level of politeness that is very refreshing, we were after all on what is perhaps their most sacred property. There were I’d estimate six to eight legalization teams available around the square, strangely they were predominantly young ladies.

The displays and information available in the two visitor centers definitely portrayed a join us and be saved attitude but I did not sense any put down of other religions.

We try not to do that, so much. (the putting down of other religions part, I mean.)

So…were you stopped by the folks with the signs about how evil the Mormons are, or was it a slow day?

 

[dianaiad]

Hi Rebecca, I don’t think formal definitions support your deliniation.
And no, I’m not disagreeing on the methods employed by LDS vs. RCC

I always wondered why Catholics were so weak on proactive evangelism. I was taught to behave as a christian but never to bring people to the faith.

By the way, I get the Baptists around all the time.

 

[Todd520]

By the way, I get the Baptists around all the time.

This ‘Come Home’ campaign is a big shift for Catholic mentality around evangelism

Just think if the world had a billion Catholics, knowing their catechism and out evangelising/proselytizing the message of Christ. We might have a kinder gentler world.

Well, I’ll hope but am not going to hold my breath for anything more than Catholic kids on a fund raising drive (I sold chocolate door to door in grade school )

 

[Catholic87]

Why can’t these mormons just admit that the only reason they go to Mexico, the Philippines and all of the other strong Catholic is to lead the believers in the True Faith… to their made up piece of junk, racist, money grabbing organization. just gets me mad.

 

[Catholic87]

strong Catholic countries*

 

[dianaiad]

Why can’t these mormons just admit that the only reason they go to Mexico, the Philippines and all of the other strong Catholic is to lead the believers in the True Faith… to their made up piece of junk, racist, money grabbing organization. just gets me mad.

I’m not going to report this post. I"m interested in seeing who, if anybody, sees a problem with it.

 

[Cat_Herder]

All will be saved who follow Christ. Christ said it best, If they are born of water and born of the Spirit they will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is believed by Catholics and Mormons alike; is there a problem?

Well, this is only scratching the surface, but the “water” part, baptism, goes like this:

[BIBLEDRB]Matthew 28:16-20[/BIBLEDRB]

Some people say the “water” part refers to amniotic fluid (!) and so they don’t baptize–but Jesus said:

[BIBLEDRB]Mark 16:16[/BIBLEDRB]

Others do baptize but have changed the formula. Some Fundamentalists baptize in the name of Jesus alone, which is not how Jesus said to do it. And the LDS teach that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate gods. Hence, three separate names, hence invalid baptism, hence questions about salvation.

 

[JeanMichel]

Others do baptize but have changed the formula. Some Fundamentalists baptize in the name of Jesus alone, which is not how Jesus said to do it. And the LDS teach that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three separate gods. Hence, three separate names, hence invalid baptism, hence questions about salvation.

The form of Catholics and Mormons for baptism is virtually identical: I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Where Trinitarians and Mormonism differ is the concept of Ousia; it does not exist within Mormonism. Both groups believe that there are three, distinct persons. Both groups say they believe in One God. Catholics, through the concept of Ousia, are able to claim a single Being or essence - One God. Mormonism must qualify that their Godhead consists of three distinct persons, but they are one in purpose; thus, in a real sense three Gods.

The Catholic Church acknowledges the form of baptism as correct, but that Mormons possess related doctrines that negate the form and thus negate the baptism performed by Mormons. Thus when a Mormon is converted to the Church they must be baptized again.

Mormons have never recognized the baptisms of any other church, including Catholic baptisms. They believe that no other church possess the true priesthood and thus their baptisms are not sealed on earth or in heaven.

 

[Catholic87]

Thank you for not reporting my post…I don’tknow why any Catholic would I mean if you see the facts…thats exactly what they do…say there spreading the Gospel,shyeah right…spreading the gospel in the most Catholic countries…haha I pray that Holy Mother Church will do something about that problem.

 

[Cat_Herder]

The form of Catholics and Mormons for baptism is virtually identical: I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Same in form but different in substance, because by in the “name,” they mean “names.” That makes all the difference because if there’s more than one God, well, go flip through Exodus and see what happens.

Where Trinitarians and Mormonism differ is the concept of Ousia; it does not exist within Mormonism. Both groups believe that there are three, distinct persons. Both groups say they believe in One God. Catholics, through the concept of Ousia, are able to claim a single Being or essence - One God. Mormonism must qualify that their Godhead consists of three distinct persons, but they are one in purpose; thus, in a real sense three Gods.

Exactly.

The Catholic Church acknowledges the form of baptism as correct, but that Mormons possess related doctrines that negate the form and thus negate the baptism performed by Mormons. Thus when a Mormon is converted to the Church they must be baptized again.

Exactly.

Mormons have never recognized the baptisms of any other church, including Catholic baptisms. They believe that no other church possess the true priesthood and thus their baptisms are not sealed on earth or in heaven.

So they say.

 

[Cat_Herder]

I pray that Holy Mother Church will do something about that problem.

Holy Mother Church is a hospital for sinners, not the police; what she does have is a commission to evangelize with charity. Which is what we are doing here.

 

[Catholic87]

catherder,
The Church also has the job of keeping the flock in the truth and light. That means preaching about the constant lies and heresies that the mormons teach.

 

[Todd520]

catherder,
The Church also has the job of keeping the flock in the truth and light. That means preaching about the constant lies and heresies that the mormons teach.

Cath87,
Isn’t teaching members the catechism a more than adequate inoculation against these lies and heresies?
Mother Church just needs to do what should already be done.

 

[Catholic87]

Hey Todd520,
Are you Catholic or mormon…and yes the Church needs to fight those heresies with the teaching of catechism and any other way possible.

 

[Todd520]

Hey Todd520,
Are you Catholic or mormon…and yes the Church needs to fight those heresies with the teaching of catechism and any other way possible.

I am now LDS, and was being a bit sarcastic by using your statement on ‘lies’ and ‘heresies’

 

[Catholic87]

Oh really your mormon…what made you leave??? If heresies doesn’t explain mormon teachings then I don’t know what does…I mean come on…Jesus isn’t God…hmmm